Most sexual harassment at work takes place during drinking sessions

By Lee Kyung-min

Almost half of sexual harassment at work occurs during after-hours drinking sessions, a government survey showed, Tuesday.

Most victims, however, just endured it without complaining because they thought it would change nothing.

According to the survey by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family between April and December last year on 7,844 office workers and 1,615 company officials, 6.4 percent _ mostly women _ experienced sexual harassment at work at least once.

Some 46 percent of the women who were sexually harassed said it occurred during drinking sessions, while 50.3 percent of men said they experienced it in the office.

But 78.4 percent of the victims said they did nothing. While 72.1 percent of male victims said it was because they did not think the harassment a big issue, 50.6 percent of females said it was because complaining would not solve the problem.

Even when they did so, 54.4 percent said they were dissatisfied with the results because they did not get a sincere apology from the perpetrator.

More than 35 percent of perpetrators left the company, but 20.9 percent of victims also left due to rumors or other unfavorable treatment afterward.

Almost 40 percent of the perpetrators were the victims’ superiors. Men made up 88 percent of the perpetrators.

The most common harassing behavior was sexual remarks on appearance, followed by sexual jokes and forcing the victim to sit next to a person to fill their glass.

The ministry said it will beef up preventative measures by having office employees receive mandatory anti-sexual harassment education, as well as setting up guidelines to support victims.